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Vancouver Island
We enjoyed our biking adventure in western Canada this year. We flew into Victoria, a city in British Columbia on Vancouver Island. Before the trip, I did not know the difference between Vancouver and Vancouver Island; I had to ask a local. Vancouver is a major city in British Columbia. Vancouver Island is home to the city of Victoria and Victoria is the capital of British Columbia. Geographically, we were about 60 miles from both Vancouver and Seattle, Washington. We were in the southern portion of Canada, below the 49th parallel.
We began our journey, stopping in Montreal and arriving in Victoria after dark. A wonderful city, easy to walk and fun explore, was ready for us to see. To acclimate to the time change, being out west, we walked and enjoyed all Victoria had to offer for a full day prior to the beginning of our biking tour.
We had in mind prior to our visit to see the Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria. It was a bit of a long walk; we enjoyed the neighborhoods along the way. The “castle” was a good stop. The building itself had been a private residence and at one time a college.
The highlight of our first night on Vancouver Island was exploring the Butchart Gardens and seeing their final fireworks show at the garden for the season. Walking around the gardens at twilight and evening with lights on the pathways lent a different feeling to the gardens. We really enjoyed the experience and were glad to take part in it.
Pictures do not do justice to the grand fireworks show. It was unlike any I had seen. Sometimes it looked as if the fireworks were walking across the garden. I saw several YouTube videos filmed during one of the shows. Even they do not do justice to the amazing show set to music. They do provide some sense of the show.
At night the capital building is all lit up and looked terrific. We were staying in a hotel next to the capital building.
This is not the first adventure for our group of dedicated biking friends. VBT does a wonderful job arranging the trip and providing bikes. We show up, enjoy the tour and pedal.
Our biking group for Canada: Vancouver Island
We all started walking in downtown Victoria waiting for the bike adventure to begin. We had previously been on a bike tour to the Florida Keys and had our picture taken at Mile Zero in Florida. We were happy to have that landmark for us to walk to as we traveled around Victoria.
Our first ride was just around the streets of Victoria. It is a pretty city and we enjoyed the ride. We saw a giant totem pole, and we all stopped at the Mile Zero marker this time in our biking gear for a picture. We also pedaled though a park. They have beautiful gardens in Victoria.
On the second day we biked to the ferry and took it to Pender Island. We then rode across the island to our hotel.
Near the hotel, riding from the ferry, my wife and I could not resist stopping at the Enchanted Forest. You would have stopped as well. We took a hike to the forest after our biking adventure the next day. It was a fun place; we spotted several faerie doors hidden throughout the forest. If you find yourself on Pender Island, the view from the forest was worthwhile as is the path through the forest. It was a fun day.
I really enjoyed our time at Poets Cove Resort & Spa on Pedler Island. We could not get enough of the view from our room and the resort. The food was terrific and the accommodation was wonderful.
My wife loves kayaking. Part of this journey was a sea kayaking guided tour. We were treated to sweeping views of Boundary Pass, the Strait of Georgia, the San Juan Islands, and Mount Baker. I did not bring my phone on the kayak. But I am happy some of our friends did.
After kayaking, we went for a quiet bike ride to Brooks Point Regional Park. It was the shortest day of biking for us. We did have wonderful views and took our bikes over to the Enchanted Forest.
We were almost sorry to leave Poets Cove Resort, but we were looking to ride more and explore. We rode our bikes back to the ferry and back to Vancouver Island. After leaving a small island for a larger one, we were back on the bikes. We went to the family owned Sea Cider Farm & Cider house. After a fun lunch, we pedaled to the Oak Bay Beach Hotel in Victoria. We enjoyed taking a dip in the hotel’s heated seaside mineral pool.
We had a fun breakfast with the group and a final briefing on our last day’s big ride.
We took our longest ride from Victoria to the Butchart Gardens. We enjoyed the scenic ride and managed to get a little lost on the way; we found our way back to the path with the help of our guides and fellow bikers. We started early so we could have plenty of time to explore the gardens.
We enjoyed our second visit to Butchart Gardens. It was all in the daylight and we were able to take our time and see some of the sights we missed on our first visit.
Some of the members of our group wanted to ride the Rose Carousel. The carousel is comprised of 30 hand-carved wooden animals and two chariots. The artwork was very pretty, and it was a fun diversion from biking and walking around the gardens.
The gardens are the main attraction, and you will have to visit. It is well worth it. A beautiful layout of flowers, trees and shrubs. Every garden just flowed and it was hard to put the camera down.
We eventually got back on our bikes and pedaled back to our hotel. It was a good day at the gardens, and we were happy to visit twice.
We managed another day of wayfaring around Victoria prior to our plane leaving in the evening. The parks and inlets are gems. We enjoyed taking in the sights in and around Victoria, including palm trees in the yards.
It was sad to say goodbye to Vancouver Island. It is a place to visit again. Fortunately for us, we have signed up for another bike tour in 2026.
Other fun:
I was able to go on a few runs in and around the area. One of my favorite runs was along the water in Victoria and crossing bridges.
I was also able to run on the other side of Victoria after our return from Pender Island.
Of course, we prioritized stopping for ice cream. Or was it dinner? It was good, especially after a fun day of biking.
Getting in shape for our ride, we took a few rides on our local bike path.
See you on the road.
Alumni Band Reunion 2025
This year we began our alumni band adventure the same way we began our Michigan State University marching band career years ago. We ran together. As students, we needed to have enough breath for the pre-game show. We defined “in shape” arriving on campus as able to play the pre-game fight song after entering the stadium and kick stepping for the event. We ran around campus during band camp, singing the fight song. The alumni band does not perform in the pre-game show. We just show up in our current shape, whatever it may be. However, two of my friends from the band and I ran the Big Ten 10k in Cincinnati. We chose a flat area, the same terrain that the participants in Chicago experience when running the Big Ten 10k. We ran at the same time, just in a different location.
This summer, we played music together, had a fun reunion and began looking forward in earnest to the alumni band weekend. It is good just to sit around and chat with friends. A good steak dinner also helps when celebrating our Big Ten 10k run.
For the fall alumni band, we started with a rehearsal on campus. It feels real when we all get back together. We can still play these instruments. Some of my fellow alumni are, or were, band directors and professional players. Several of my fellow alumni band members are like me, still playing and retired with time to come up for the weekend game.
After the rehearsal we enjoyed the reception for the band members, especially as it allows us to catch up with people we may not have seen in a year or several years. We also meet new people as well.
Saturday begins with us watching the Spartan Marching Band rehearse the show. I always wonder if we were that good. These guys are terrific! We join them and learn our spots in the drill and the music where we march and play, just like the old days.
This year the band is recognizing Tom Izzo, the Michigan State University Hall of Fame basketball coach. He came and gave us a pep talk after our rehearsal.
We had some time after our rehearsal to enjoy the campus and see some of the impressive tailgating that goes on during the home games. I am sure every stadium has traditions for tailgating. My favorite was the “green flamingos” who were setting up when we arrived. They were recognized as the tailgating showpiece of the week. I am glad I stopped by.
The marching parade to and from the stadium is one of our joys. It is one of the things we can do as the alumni band that we did when we were students.
It takes a while for 650 alumni band members to get seated. We arrived about an hour before game time. The pre-game show was wonderful; we all enjoyed watching the current students perform, and some of us were happy not to have to run onto the field and kick step. Near half-time we all snake down the stands and get ready for our portion of the show. It is so much fun on the sidelines. We get to march on the field, just as we did when we were students. The show is remarkably well done, thanks to the directors and band members watching out for us. After the game we go back to the field and perform a post-game concert before lining up and marching back to demonstration hall.
Other Fun:
We ate at the Brody cafeteria. If you had told me, when I was a student that I would come back into this cafeteria, I would have said “no way.” It has been torn down and re-built. It is a good dining experience. We ate there after the game, so we did not have to drive anywhere.
I did my traditional run on campus on Sunday morning after the game. It is good to explore the campus. Generally, no one is out in the morning after a football game. It brings back memories of seeing some of the buildings that I took classes in and remember from my days as a student on campus.
I played disc golf about 3 miles from campus on a relatively new course. It was okay and I may go back, but I will look for another choice as well.
See you on the road. No bike rides on this trip.
Alumni Band Weekend!
The Alumni band weekend was a perfect September weekend at Michigan State University. Someone asked me recently if I ever played in front of people, and I was able to reply that I just played for 78,000. Of course, they were not in attendance to see me or my friends. It was a football game, and we were the half-time and the post-game show.
I shared with my fellow E-flat cornet player friend Bill the saying “you cannot go back.” However, this is the only event we can do on campus that we did when we were in school. It was great to connect with my friends and fellow band members.
We started with a rehearsal on Friday night and then a reception where we looked at the memorabilia from the star of the show this year—Dave Catron. Professor Catron was my marching band director and held the position of director of the Spartan Marching Band (SMB) for many years. It was great to see him and be able to honor the legacy of his time in the program. It was fun to see some of the memorabilia and charts. My fellow-E flat cornet player friend Tom told us how he (as a part of the band communication team) drew cover pictures and other items on the display table.
The alumni band organizers had Saturday well planned, and registration was a breeze. We all met and watched the SMB run through their rehearsal; they sounded great! We had a run through of our combined program: imagine 575 alumni members joining 300 SMB members on the field. It took a few minutes to get us going into the designated spots.
After the combined rehearsal, we heard from Dave Catron and the Athletic Director and then the University President. It was great to see them all. Of course, one of my friends reminded me that we are all potential doners.
After the morning rehearsal, we enjoyed lunch and visiting prior to lining up for the march to the stadium.
One of the best moments of the weekend comes when we are marching to the stadium from the music building. The 575-member alumni band gets to march and play just like we did when we were students, except without the hot uniform and inspection. Dave Catron was on hand to watch us and cheer us on. The alumni band marches first and a little later the SMB marches separately. This moment is when most think we are back at school with the crowd along both sides of the street and the drum cadence from our playing days. We strike up the fight song and the crowd cheers. They are as excited as we are.
We perform this march to the stadium in good order; before we enter the stadium, we sing the alma mater at the entrance. It takes a while for 575 of us to find our seats. We enjoy the warm fall day and admire the band’s pre-game entrance wondering if we were ever that good.
It is awesome for us to be back on the stadium turf. Entry to the playing field takes several minutes of the second quarter and we get to see some of the action at field level. I also get to catch up with some of my buddies from last year as we get ready to perform. The highlight of our marching is to spell out “CATRON” in honor of the former director of the SMB. If you look closely, I am on the left side of the “A.”
After the half-time performance, we had our traditional apples, played more pep band songs, and played again on the field for the post-game show. We then are left with our memories of another fun day on campus as we march and play on our way back from the stadium to Demo Hall.
Lessons learned:
- Marching with the band was a great experience. Each year marching with the alumni band continues that great feeling. I can go back and experience some of the fun as an undergrad.
- Live and in person at a Big Ten football game is an energizing experience. Win or lose all season, this is the school I graduated from and the weekend at the stadium with 78,000 other fans is terrific.
- Meeting and spending time with friends and over 575 alumni is an experience like no other I have had in retirement. I practice my trumpet so I can continue to play with this awesome group.
Other fun:
Running on campus. My training plan called for a four-mile run and I did it on Sunday morning in and around campus prior to driving home. I had never been to the Lewis Landscape Arboretum (dedicated three years after I graduated). It was great to explore the garden a little while I was running. I also managed to walk along campus after eating breakfast at Brody Hall, where I ate as a freshman and sophomore. They had re-done the building and the experience, but it was still a quiet place to eat on Sunday morning. I understand it is one of the largest if not the largest non-military cafeteria in the world.
On the way back from Michigan, I decided it would be interesting to visit the Neil Armstrong Museum. I have seen this museum on I-75 going to and from Michigan. It is a fascinating museum and has more than just great Neil Armstrong memorabilia. It did make a great to stop; I am glad I visited on my way back home.
No bike rides on campus, although I did ride as a student.
Bike Riding in Full Bloom
Imagine a whole countryside of farmers’ fields planted with tulip bulbs and all the colors. We saw acres and acres of tulips in full bloom as we biked along the northern two provinces of the Netherlands.
Besides the pretty tulip blooms, we enjoyed spending time with four other couples we had met on other bike rides. Thank you, Cecilia, for getting us all together. It was a lot of fun.
We were in the Netherlands as part of a bike and barge tour organized by VBT. We say to our friends and family who ask, the weather was cool and rainy, and it was windy from the North Sea. And, we enjoyed biking and exploring this beautiful country.
We wanted to be acclimated when the bike and barge tour began, so we went early. Our trip began in Den Haag (The Hague); we thoroughly enjoyed exploring the city on bike, foot, and tram. We also got out to see a little of the area around Den Haag.
One of my running buddies asked about the trip; when I told him we were starting at The Hague, he asked “Who plans to go there?” Den Haag was a perfect introduction to the Netherlands, and this was a good place to begin our visit. That is part of the beauty of the arranged travel. We would not have set out to see The Hague, but we are glad we visited and explored this place. We were joined with our friends Bonnie and Adam in biking and walking in The Hague and learned a little more about the Netherlands.
The national legislature and the Prime Minister work out of a giant complex in The Hague called the Binnenhof. The Binnenhof is under re-construction so we toured The Hague’s Historic Museum and learned the history and saw great pictures and models of the legislature in action.
This picture typifies our visit to the Netherlands. We were at the beach, so sandals were appropriate. Next to the sandals for sale you will notice wool hats and scarves. The temperature changes often, and it is windy and cold near the North Sea.
We made a side trip to Delft. Delft is known for the blue pottery, and we did see it quite a lot. Delft is a quaint town, and to an American tourist it looked perfect. This was one of the places that we had ice cream.
Other fun in The Hague:
All over The Hague we saw the iconic image of the “Girl with the Pearl.” We spent several hours touring the Mauritshuis art museum and saw the actual painting of the “Girl with the Pearl Earring.” The museum has a lot to offer, including the building itself as well as the Rembrandts and Vermeers. My tip: bring your ear buds to hear the narration from the app—I wish I had brought mine. One of the paintings was actively being restored.
We were sad to leave The Hague, with more to experience, yet excited to begin our biking and barge tour from Amsterdam. Once on board we were given a quick tour of our boat, assigned a room and got settled in for a ride to our first stop. We did a warm up short ride to ensure the bikes were all working and we understood the rules of the road, keeping in mind that there are more bikes than people in the Netherlands.
Thinking of Holland (we were in the provinces of North and South Holland, in the country of the Netherlands) I thought about tulips, windmills, and wooden shoes. One of our memorable stops was biking into Zaanse Schans, a living history museum with working windmills. We experienced a guide making a pair of wooden shoes and explaining why they are still in use today (and not just sold to tourists). We spent the night moored outside a windmill, and at the beginning of our next day’s ride we explored a working windmill that saws lumber.
For the tour, our group of 10 friends met up with our traveling companions, 14 more riders who were in country to celebrate Sue’s 85th birthday. We also had two wonderful guides. We did have a great time with the group, and it was good to meet our fellow riders. The weather was cold, rainy, and sometimes very windy. Greg, one of our friends, told us that 100 bad days make for 100 good stories. Regardless of the weather, we had a fun time biking in the Netherlands.
I did see a windmill daily and I am pretty sure we also saw tulips blooming every day as well. However, we did not see too many people walking in wooden shoes.
Tulip fields and bulb growing was everywhere. Imagine driving through Nebraska, Illinois, or Indiana, and instead of corn and wheat fields there are fields of red, pink, purple, and yellow flowers. As far as the eye could see, sometimes on both sides of the road, were fields of blooming tulips. What a site! We learned that the farmers were bulb farmers and cut off the flowers to help the bulbs grow. Still, these fields were part of the reason to come, and they did not disappoint.
One of the bike ride tours was to the Hortus Bulborum, a historic garden with thousands of varieties. We learned that the lovely two-color tulips have a virus. The growers now know how to eliminate that virus. But the multi-colored varieties were once highly prized in the tulip mania.
A highlight for us was biking to the Keukenhof gardens and seeing the annual two-month exhibit with more than 7 million bulbs on display. It was a terrific presentation; this was a showcase event for growers and distribution companies. It was not a museum. We were at the Keukenhof about 4 hours; it rained off and on. The crowd did not diminish. We heard they average about 10,000 visitors a day, rain, or shine, and we believe it. It was a spectacular view all of the colors.
Other Experiences:
Our barge tour ended in Amsterdam and we spent a few days after the barge tour walking around Old Amsterdam. We saw the highlights, and missed some as well. We had a fun time and enjoyed the beer at the Heineken experience.
We were fortunate to experience the Anne Frank house. It was a very moving tour, not to be missed. It can happen anywhere. Thank goodness that good people helped hide these families for as long as they could.
We did a cruise on the Amsterdam canals. We enjoyed them as a scenic backdrop on our walks though the old city. Amsterdam apparently has more canals than Venice.
We saw several museums, and could have visited several more. Each one was well done. You can find any interest and it likely has a museum somewhere in the Netherlands.
Lessons learned:
- I can ride at less than 55 degrees F, provided I have the proper clothing. We had packed appropriately for the biking experience.
- Traveling on a barge with a small group of dedicated bikers is fun. Riding in a hailstorm and a strong wind is not fun, and I do not have to continue riding after reaching a natural resting point.
- A biking tour and a walking tour after arriving off the plane is a good way to be acclimated to the new city.
- Ferry crossings are a good way to cross the water. The Netherlands is full of water. It is amazing the amount of land reclaimed from the water. We began several bike rides at less than sea level.
- We took more than one ferry across a canal or river, always, it seemed, bringing us back to tulip fields.
A country with a tradition of biking everywhere is a good place to share the road. Land is at a premium. The bike lanes were sometimes marked. We rode on some bike paths. There are more bikes than people in the Netherlands, so the country knows about biking. This is an example of a typical two-way road. Some have canals on both sides. As you can see, there is not a lot of room.
We were sad to leave the Netherlands. All good things eventually have an end. Seeing Amsterdam at the end of our travel was a good way for us to say goodbye to the Netherlands.
See you on the road.
Walking and Visiting with Friends and Family
In late 2023 and early 2024 we took a few trips, visited kids and grandkids, and saw a presidential library.
It is enjoyable seeing family and friends. Sometimes we do new things. Sometimes we just repeat. It is a joy to be present for birthdays and celebrations like Christmas. Of course, any excuse to see a grandchild is good.
This last spring/winter we went back to see our grandson and reveled in him opening Christmas presents. We also went back again a few months later for his birthday. He had a good party. It is fun to turn three.
While we are in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, we do get out and walk. There are several local parks to visit. We enjoy the Gertrude M. Boyden Wildlife Refuge, near where the kids live, as a place to hike in all seasons. With 50 acres, this is a popular local spot for walking dogs. The scenery near the three-mile river is great as well.
I am again part of a local running group, and I am training for a half-marathon in May. This year, one of my kids will join me to run, so, it is good for me to keep in shape. I hear that exercise is important as we age. I will run for as long as I feel I can safely run. Of course, my kids call what I do jogging. Wait until they are my age and then see what they call it…I completed the Frozen 10k run and the 15k Heart mini, as well as running in Massachusetts and Rhode Island on our travels.
In the spring I flew out west to LA; one of the highlights was visiting the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum (besides visiting my youngest). I did not know that a retired Air Force One and Marine One were inside. It was a fun tour, and as usual with museums, I could have spent more time viewing the exhibits. I learned that Reagan kept a journal of his time in office and he liked to write note cards for speaking ideas. I also saw the jelly beans around the replica Oval Office and came away impressed with all he had accomplished.
I flew in and out of the Burbank airport. I did not realize it was an old Lockheed Martain facility. I was delayed in leaving due to the high winds, so I got to explore Santa Susana Pass, an area nearby. Walking through the park, I could just imagine the early settlers on horseback going through this area. Of course, Reagan was on my mind, and I can see where they could have filmed some old westerns here as well.
When in California, I am amazed at the plants that just grow along the roads and bloom. They look unreal to me. A bird of paradise? I do not see that very often where I live.
I did play disc golf at a couple of local courses. Elephant Rock was a favorite. It only had 12 baskets for discs, but the rock was interesting and the layout was fun.
When I got home, my local course was in full bloom, so it was nice to see spring coming to the area.
My friend Gary was one of the directors or judges for a national bridge tournament in Louisville. It was exciting to see all the bridge players and the tournament setup. We did see some games in progress. Maybe we will play next time we go to the tournament. We enjoyed time with Gary and our time in Louisville.
Other Fun:
Apparently, California passed Proposition 65 years ago to get labeling correct on their water, answering the question, “Is my water safe?” Unintended consequences happen. On my rental car was the notice that I should not breath the exhaust from the car. I now consider myself warned.
My only bike rides have been in the basement, getting ready for a trip in April. See you on the road.
Biking the Central Florida Rail Trails
An ideal way to spend a few days at the beginning of December is biking on Central Florida’s rail trail system. Our guide told us that Central Florida, back in the day, was where the money was made; timber and other material were transported out of Central Florida. The rich and powerful were not at the beach, they were in the center of the state where the natural resources were located. As the state has migrated to a population near the coast and the natural resources (like timber) are not as important, the railways have been reclaimed for biking, hiking, running and walking. We will want to go back and ride some of them again in the future.
We began our Charleston Bicycle Tour riding near Inverness, Florida, on the Withlacoochee State Trail. We rode from near the town to the end of the trail. The trail was well marked and maintained. We rode to the end of the trail (Mile 46) at Gulf Junction with two other couples before turning back for a great day out in the warm weather.
The second day we also went on the Withlacoochee State Trail, in the opposite direction. I wanted to go play disc golf and needed to go back to Inverness and ended up going a few miles out of my way. Whispering Pines Park is a good park in Inverness. Unfortunately, we encountered a little road construction and, due to my lack of planning, my bike computer took us unexpectantly on the park’s trail system.
Due to my desire to play disc golf, off the trail, we rode a little longer than the rest of the group and farther than we set out to do in the morning when we left.
We were transported from Inverness to the Oakland and Winter Gardens area of Central Florida for the rest of our week-long biking adventure.
Our first ride after Inverness was on the General James A. Van Fleet State Trail. We drove to the trailhead and were picked up at the other end of the trail. This is a paved bike (multi-use) path though the greenways. The website calls it “one of Florida’s most rural, paved rail-trails.” We talked with a biker who said he lived in the swamp. There were a few entrances near the trail.
On this ride I saw (I did not stop to take a picture) for the first time a “beware of alligators” sign along the trail. We did see some wildlife along the way, but thankfully we did not see any alligators on the path. After our ride we had lunch at the Lakeland BBQ Company. It was delicious. A few of our fellow riders had the “couch potato” which looked great; if I go back, I will plan to order that after a 30-mile bike ride.
We spent our last few days biking on the West Orange Trail and some of the connectors. We stayed in Oakland, Florida, and biked as well as drove to Winter Garden. Winter Garden was the focus for our meals, and we had good ones. We enjoyed the Christmas lights all over Winter Garden as well as in Oakland’s square that intersected the bike path. We walked along the path, ran on the path, and biked on the path. We did ride our bikes to both ends of the West Orange Trail.
Being December, even in Florida, not every day began warm enough to bike (our “requirement” is 55 degrees). But we biked anyway! We enjoyed the biking more as the day went on and the temperature warmed up. We enjoyed our cool start on several beautiful weather days. The trail was wide and well maintained. The Van Fleet Trail had very few intersections; it was a faster pace than the West Orange trail which had more frequent intersections.
We did like Apopka Station and the park nearby. Central Florida in December likes to decorate. We enjoyed the big park decorations and all the festive lights we saw along the path (even in the daylight) as we rode along.
We stayed in the Oakland Manor. It is near Lake Apopka. We were able to walk onto the pier at the lake and look at the scenery. We only saw glimpses of alligators in the lake and none on the street. The area is beautiful.
One of my favorite rides was the second disc golf adventure, which was planned better. I rode the West Orange Trail to the end at Killarney Station. Then took the South Lake Trail (it just merged into it). The South Lake Trail had some hills. We were surprised at this different trail feature as the week’s trails and our impression of Florida is that it is mostly flat. The hills were not that big and did not present any issues for us to ride up or down. The South Lake Trail got confusing; I am glad I had a map open on my phone telling me which way to go. I was headed to Lake Hiawatha, and around Lake Minneola to play a round of disc golf before biking back 15 miles to lunch at Winter Garden. It was less confusing going back, but I still used the app on my phone to keep me on track with the directions.
Other Fun:
I was able to bike to two different disc golf courses. The first one was hard to find from the bike path near Inverness (and I started in the wrong direction). The Whispering Pines course was very technical and it did not look as well used as some of the other courses I have played.
The Champions Pointe course in Lake Hiawatha Park was a well laid out (long) course in a beautiful park. Several others were playing on the day I visited. With only two discs, I had fun and spoke to several other disc golfers along the course.
My brother and sister-in-law live in the Orlando area and we were happy to spend time with them before our bike trip began.
We did see a peacock on the West Orange Trail at a Dunkin Donuts parking lot. So, all of America and its peacocks must run on Dunkin?
We biked over 180 miles on the trip, averaging over 37 miles biking a day. It was a fun week of biking; we will come again with our road bikes and enjoy the wonderful Central Florida rail trails.
See you on the road.
Alumni Band Weekend
It must be fall; football is beginning and the kids are back in school.
For me, it was the perfect weekend in the state of Michigan for the Alumni Band to get together. The Michigan State University (MSU) Marching Band has around 300 players. This year the Alumni Band had about 450 participants from 23 states. Together, we had over 700 marching at half time on the field. And we did drills.
It all started with an email from the Alumni Band asking for us to sign up. I waited a while and decided to go for it. Better now while I can still march and play. My former roommate and fellow E-flat trumpet player Steve said he would join me to march. Another one of my friends could only join for the game day due to a Friday night commitment.
They say you cannot go back. We did, and we had fun doing it. I have not played so much in 24 hours in a long time. The last reunion I attended, my second, was in 1991, ten years after I graduated. I do not remember the Alumni Band being so big.
The weekend started with a group rehearsal on Friday night; like we were still in school, bright and early the next morning we went over our drill with the students—who looked sharp. We marched to the Stadium after grabbing a lunch and performed in the stands and then on the field for half-time and again in the stands and then on the field again for a post-game show before marching back from the Stadium.
As a special treat on Friday night, after our rehearsal, before we were dismissed, we heard from the new women’s basketball coach, some former football players, the band director from my era (I did not even know I was part of an era) and the University interim president. I then went to the hotel room with my former college roommate Steve and spent the night again sharing a room. I feel younger just writing this.
During the Saturday morning rehearsal, the alumni members were corrected or reminded how to march. It is amazing how quickly it all comes back and how much faith the directors have in us. The show came together without too much trouble.
On Saturday morning, it was a treat to practice marching and join the Spartan Marching Band (SMB) on the practice field. This field is so much better than what we had, including a taller platform for the directors to see how we are doing. The students did not have a paper copy of the drill like we all did; they had it on some app on their phones. Times have changed. The SMB all had matching t-shirts and looked and sounded great. It has been over 40 years since I was part of this group.
During our practice, it was great to see that the SMB and the Alumni Band have several fans in the stands next to the band’s practice field. I was happy to see my fellow E-flat trumpet player Bill in the stands to greet us.
The march to the Stadium after lunch was one of the highlights of the day for us in the Alumni Band. We formed up on our former practice field, near the music building, and the alumni band marched to the Stadium. The SMB followed later. We marched to the familiar drum line cadence, which the Alumni played to perfection, we tried to keep in straight line, and play the fight song, as well as cheer and sing as we marched to the Stadium.
We had great seats for the SMB’s pre-game show and, of course, the football game. We did not know any of the drama that the football program would go through in the coming days and weeks with the firing of the head coach for our game. It is just as well that we could enjoy the moments for us and our fellow Alumni Band members.
Once the game began, we joined the band in playing for exciting moments in the game and then suddenly it was time to leave the stands and get onto the field to march the half-time show. Several good memories came flooding back playing in the Stadium that is now 100 years old. Just the exhilaration of being part of this big thing we call the marching band was an awesome time.
Halftime went well. Thanks to the guidance from the SMB on field, I hit my spots and remembered how to turn.
The postgame show was a blast, even though it took us a long time to exit the stands and get back onto the field. The SMB performed a number and then we joined them for Everybody’s Everything—which was fun to play and move with the band.
Until next time, we formed up and marched through the tunnel and marched and played on the way back to the Demonstration Hall where we began our Alumni Band journey on Friday night. I think the experience was typical from what I remember from being part of the SMB. It is a long day; it was 11 hours after we first came to Demonstration Hall Saturday morning to warm-up that we were done for our day. The SMB probably (as we once did) had an after-game party to attend. Our group went out to dinner and we were tired.
Lessons learned:
Wear a hat—the sun was great; I just was out in it for hours and needed a hat.
Bring the music for the post game show—I had to look on with a friend to get the parts. Now I know what to bring.
Other Fun:
Spending the weekend with my friends. Do we look any different?
This is us at the last alumni band day we attended in 1991:
I am happy to report that we all remembered our band jackets and they still (mostly) fit. It does get cool in September on campus at Michigan State University.
I drove by the house where I grew up and my old high school on the way home. I also stopped and played some disc golf as well. Always a fun time.
I was happy to spend time with my buddies from school and play my trumpet all day and catch up with friends and band members that I had not seen in a long time. I think I will have to go back next year.
As I was walking back to the stands after the half-time show, I met the trainer for Zeek the Wonder Dog IV. It was a good conversation and Zeek, to his credit, ignored the 700 of us mingling around him. I remember the first wonder dog. The trainer has been working with II-IV. A fun job going out to the field and throwing frisbees.
Walking to the Stadium and having to park for the early morning rehearsal, we walked by several alumni fans who were setting up their tailgate parties. We were amazed at the elaborate tailgate setups. Something new for me was seeing “Fowling.” I had not previously heard of this game, bowling with footballs. I was assured that Fowling is a Michigan based game. I will look for it to catch on next year across the country.
No bike rides on this journey. I did get a run in on a sleepy and foggy campus on Sunday.
See you on the road.
Novelty and Reality, I will try not to repeat the same story again…
The kids are back in school, and as was the case when I was a child, I wanted to report on what we have been doing this year since our travel to New Zealand. We have repeated many of the same travels in 2023 as we did in 2022. My family is in the same places. As we visit these places, I will point out a few new sights along the way as well as a few favorites. We have been to Massachusetts and Rhode Island as well as to North Carolina. One such change was running a half marathon with my two oldest in Providence this year.
We were able to celebrate Christmas with our grandson and his birthday (two already!).
Visiting Block Island, which is part of Rhode Island, was a new experience for us. It was a nice day to walk the beach and bike around the island. Happy that one of our sons took the day off to enjoy the adventure with us on the Island.
We did learn about fog warnings. The boat taking us to the island used a fog horn several times. We were safe and enjoyed the island. I was pleased to stop in the visitor’s center and receive a discount on the rental bikes. We also received good information on where to go and what to see at the center.
After the sun came out and the fog cleared, we had a satisfying bike ride, including riding to all four points of the compass on the island. At the end of our ride, we enjoyed some ice cream before going back to the harbor and turning in the bikes. All in all, a good day at the beach and on an island.
The way to and from our house to visit family in Massachusetts and Rhode Island is through Pennsylvania. We have gone several ways, including going though Erie, PA, the most northern edge, and taking I-76 on the southern route as well as I-80 through the heart of the commonwealth.
As we get older, we cannot drive straight through (like our kids sometimes do) for a 15-hour (not including stopping) car ride. We break it up. Where to stop in Pennsylvania is a planning challenge; it can be fun to think about alternative stops in the state.
We often take a different route home than we did on the way to Massachusetts. I have a friend who lives near Wilkes-Barre, not too far out of our way. It helps to have a place to spend the night. He and I recently stopped at Ricketts Glen State Park for a hike before continuing home for me. It was beautiful to hike, and had so many waterfalls. I am not sure I would have ever stopped at this park without Rob pointing it out for me. In reading about this park, it was slated to become a National Park before the Depression era budget cuts and WWII began heating up. Pennsylvania has turned this into a magnificent and underappreciated park.
We stopped to hike here in July as well, but we did not make it back to the car before the rain came. Fortunately, we had a set of dry clothes in the car.
I ran the Great Appalachian Valley 10K, which also counted for my virtual Big Ten 10K run. As we were driving to Massachusetts, we enjoyed the Shippensburg campus and the disc golf courses. The Great Appalachian Valley run was small (about 250 runners); we were happy that we could all start early even though we were running on a rail trail. It worked out great for us.
We have been back to North Carolina visiting our newlywed couple. Again, a fun trip and not too much new. We did get a family trip to one of the Charlotte area disc golf courses.
Other repeated travel this year has been to visit my mom and my in-laws as well as family and friends along the way.
Other fun:
Traveling on holidays can be interesting. We were in Pennsylvania for Valentine’s Day and had a great meal out; and I spent the day (in the car) with my lovely wife. Even more creative, on Christmas day we had dinner in the hotel in Pennsylvania, as all the restaurants are closed on Christmas day. My wonderful wife planned ahead, so we had all the trimmings for a fancy dinner in the lobby, alone. It was great.
I participated (a repeated story) in the Tri-State Running Group. This year the Frozen 5k went off as planned. The Heart Mini was cold but provided the right distance training (a 15k run) as we prepared for the half-marathon. We had several runs in and around Cincinnati with the running group.
As part of my training for the Providence half-marathon, I was able to do a training run in Providence. It was an eight-mile preview of the half-marathon course. This is a similar process that my running group was doing in Cincinnati on their half-marathon course. It was only 11 degrees when we started, but it was my opportunity to train and experience running on the Providence course.
I ran the Red’s Run, a 10K as part of my training that benefits the Cincinnati Red’s Foundation. This run made my training schedule to get ready for the 10K in July.
I played disc golf at a few new courses (for me). My favorite from my recent travels though Pennsylvania is the Faylor Lake DiscGolfPark. This is the top-rated free disc golf course in the world according to the 2023 UDisc ratings. I agree.
I did get to play the number one UDisc course in the world, Maple Hill. Based on my game, I decided to move up from Red (easy course) to White (moderately difficult course) and when I did, I was so excited to see that I was already playing well at the next level on this course. I needed to move up. I am not yet ready for the next two harder levels on this course.
We were able to visit friends as well on our travels. It is wonderful to reconnect with friends in person.
The summer means bikes, and we took our bikes to Massachusetts. We enjoyed (again) the ride to Dighton Rock and the East Bay trail in Rhode Island.
We spent the evening at the Old Silver Beach on Falmouth (Cape Cod). The water was refreshing and we got to see our oldest play ultimate Frisbee while we played with our grandson.
Lessons learned:
We have choices on what road to travel, flying or by car. It is important to explore alternative options. In May, on the way home from Massachusetts, I stopped at a disc golf course at a brewery and picked up some tasty beer. It is a better experience to be open to the possibilities.
See you on the road.
Confessions of a Retirement Traveling Disc Golfer
Retirement for some means moving to a year-round location that caters to hitting a white round ball for fun and enjoyment playing, as some in the disc golf community call it, “ball golf.” I took traditional ball golf lessons when I worked for a bank and I enjoyed playing on country club courses with clients. I know people who love ball golf and have made the move to be able to play year around, and they are quite happy doing it.
For me, disc golf is a happy sideline to the other things I am doing while retired. Finding courses on my travels is good enough. I find it enjoyable to get out on a walk and throw a disc for a few hours. I do not have to live on or near a course or join a prestigious club to play disc golf. The entry fee at most courses is free; the discs cost about $25 or, when purchased used, even less. My joy comes from playing with my friends and family, as well as finding new courses to play.
Last year I wrote about sampling some of the best courses for disc golf in the world. I have been playing disc golf off and on for years. On a road trip about 20 years ago, a co-worker suggested we play a course near the DFW airport as we finished up and had several hours prior to our flight. I still have the disc I purchased that day and used for the entire round. I have been looking for courses to play ever since.
I am not a professional player, or even very good. I enjoy smaller, “easier” courses to the high-power technical courses. I had the opportunity to play over 100 times in 2022, here are my highlights:
- My first Ace, a one throw into the basket from the tee pad in North Carolina at the Haywood Community College Disc Golf Course.
- I played rounds in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Kansas, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Missouri.
- Played rounds in every month in 2022, and my longest streak of rounds was unexpected, playing the first eleven days of November due to the beautiful weather.
- Played a glow in the dark tournament at my “home” disc golf course.
- Played rounds with all of my family (okay—not the 18-month-old) and friends. As a special treat for me, I also played with my new son-in-law as well as his groomsmen prior to the wedding.
I use the UDisc app on my phone to keep track of the score, as well as to track the location of the next pin when I am playing on a new course. My best round was at the Haywood Community College Course and Briar Creek Park with a score of one under par for 9 holes. My worst round was at Idlewild DGC, a 31 over par for 24 holes.
Disc Golfing in Kentucky:
I live near one of the top disc golf courses in the world, Idlewild DGC, and rarely play it due to its difficulty for my (lack of) ability. My “home” course, the one with the most rounds recorded, is Boone Woods, a friendly mid-level course with some technical shots. Since I cannot throw more than 200 feet (225 downhill!) the course is a good challenge for me.
I have now convinced two of my bike riding buddies to join me in playing disc golf. More time on the course has improved all of our results, and we get time together learning, practicing and playing rounds.
This year in October my disc golfing buddies and I played in the 2022 Disc ‘n Dat Day Glow event. We had a lot of fun. I had never played “glow” disc golf before. We played a random draw tournament, meaning, I was paired with a good player, or he was paired with me…
The night “glow” round was better than I could have hoped for. I purchased a glow in the dark disc and we had stickers that glowed to place on the discs we owned. The flights of the discs in the dark were cool to view and, in some ways, the glowing discs were easier to find. My team (my partner) ended the night way under par; “we” ended up in third place overall. We all had fun at the event and may do this event again next year.
I have played a few other Kentucky courses, including Lincoln Ridge Park which is one of the Northern Kentucky favorite courses (currently ranked #4 course in the state). As I was planning on driving past the Wendell Moore Disc Golf Course in La Grange, KY ranked #5 in the state, I stopped and played.
Disc Golfing at E-Town was a good find at the Freeman Lake DGC. We were able to play this course while waiting for our oldest to arrive in Kentucky prior to attending training at Fort Knox. The course has 3 challenging water holes that I do not like, as I do not like to lose discs. Overall, it is a good and challenging course. I managed to play this course a few times.
On the way back home from the Smoky Mountains, we stopped at Briar Creek Park and played a round of disc golf. This is a short course, perfect for a short thrower like me. This course was a good spot for a picnic as well as stretching the legs after driving for a while.
Disc Golfing in North Carolina
One of my typical ideas on a road trip is to take a break from driving by taking a walk. What better than to take that walking break and combine it with disc golf? We needed a break while driving from Kentucky to North Carolina; I found the Haywood Community College Disc Golf course near the North Carolina border with Tennessee. This is the course that I threw my first Ace (or “hole in one”). Everyone who plays disc golf wants to get an ace.
It was good to have a witness to vouch for me that I did throw an ace shot on this round. My wife will confirm my ace shot, and I am so happy to have had her there to share in the moment. We could not see the basket from the tee pad, but we did hear the metal clang as the disc landed (we hoped) in the basket.
Eager Beaver at Elon Park is a course in Charlotte. I used this venue to play disc golf with the groomsmen and the groom prior to the wedding.
Disc Golfing in Tennessee
What do you want to do for your birthday? How about a round of disc golf in Tennessee. We played the Cedar Hill Park DGC outside of Nashville on our way to our niece’s wedding.
Winds of Westover—I played this course in Jackson, TN, on the road between Memphis and the Andrew Jackson home, the Hermitage. It is a fun course, but unfortunately it did not have cement tee pads. Dirt works, as it was dry. The layout was tricky for a guy new to the course; I made a few mistakes and had to go back and start again for the correct basket. The map was good but I failed to consult the map as I should have.
Disc Golfing in Mississippi
Our niece got married near Ole Miss. We had fun exploring the area. And we played some disc golf since we were in Oxford. The first course we played, The Ole Miss Rebel DGC, has a strange layout; it was hard for us to find the start of the course. We did find the course from where we parked and were, unfortunately, near the halfway point; we eventually found the first tee box way across the field.
After playing a technical course on our first day, we switched to the family friendly 9-hole course that we played twice, the oldest or first disc golf course in Mississippi, T.E. Avent Park. My sister and brother-in law as well as one of our kids joined us to play. Mr. Joe, as we like to call our brother-in-law, had fun playing some of the holes. Disc golf is a friendly game and all are welcome to play.
Disc Golfing in Arkansas
I have played courses in Arkansas. On the road to see my mom, I stopped to play Cline Park, Clarksville, AR. The course has a lot of water. I should not have played right after it rained nearby. I did find all of my discs, although I had to rescue one from the water.
Disc Golfing in Gorgia Gascoigne Bluff DGC was a fun excursion on our bike ride travels in the Golden Isles. The Bluff is a historically significant spot and we enjoyed playing under the live oak trees.
Forrest Hills DGC Savannah was a short, 9-hole course we played in-between rain storms. We had timed the play well and did not get wet while playing.
Disc Golfing in Illinois
I played The Oaks DGC in Mokena, Illinois, the #5 course in the state and the closest one to the Big Ten 10k location. This was a well-designed course. My oldest and I only played the first 18 holes. It has more. It was interesting hearing some of the players on the course discussing the Idlewild Open Disc Golf Tournament going on while we were playing in Illinois, having driven by that course on our way out of town.
Disc Golfing in Missouri
On the way back from visiting my mom, I stopped in Springfield and played the Oak Grove Park 9-hole course. I ended up playing this course twice as it did not take too much time to play once.
Disc Golfing in Indiana
I really liked the course in Ferdinand (18th Street Park). It was just off highway 64, on my route home and was a fun, hilly 9-hole course. It was easy to find my way around this course, on exit 63.
Disc Golfing in Massachusetts
I did play Maple Hill, the number one world course, again in 2022. It is such a super course and even the easy (red) layout is challenging as well fun to play. I also played at Borderland State Park, a technical course, using the state park discs to play after we had spent a morning running.
Disc Golfing in Rhode Island
My two oldest joined me for a fun day at Slater Park playing disc golf.
Disc Golfing in New York
We stopped to stretch our legs in Chittenango, New York, and play disc golf in Sullivan Park. This was a good course. We did get confused on the layout, which I am sure is easy to do for us out of town disc golfers.
Disc Golfing in Kansas
I stopped on our recent travels from Colorado for a break to play a round of disc golf at Rice Park in Topeka, KS. I do not think the locals at the senior center know that a disc golf course is nearby based on the reactions I got when asking where the start of the course was located. It was a good course to play in the middle of a road trip.
Lessons learned:
I am following the advice of the pros and taking note of several YouTube videos to improve my play. I am currently following Scott Stokely on YouTube and have learned a lot by the way he is able to explain several simple concepts.
I enjoy looking at the rankings of the top courses by state and have played some of these courses. I have also enjoyed finding shorter, 9-hole courses, and will look for more of them as I travel in 2023.
Other fun:
The benefit of playing in public parks is that a lot of disc golf is free. Sometimes the holes or the courses are closed due to tournaments and other events going on in the park. You have to take the good and the bad.
In 2022, I was able to enjoy a round or two with all of my kids. This is something special for us retired guys!
Having convinced one of my friends to play, we were able to team up on another friend and now the three of us play frequently. It is great to have others share in the experience, and of course we can witness great shots being made.
No bike rides; this is disc golf.
Retirement Travel with Glen 